Tube flattening means



June15,1948. Y 1 J. GQRSALES 2,443,432

- `TUBE FLATTENING MEANS I Filed April 17, 1944 s sheets-sheet 1 lla-l f ATMP/viv l June 15, 1948. 1 G, ROSALES v Y 2,443,432

TUBE FLATTENING MEANS Filed April 17, 1944 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jztgZ Y gli /N VEA/fak M0550# 6. @a5/u f5 June l5, 1948.

5 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed April 17,' 1944 W vI M 4N a 1J r .1 n. I N5 T M h w\ /W n H 1 GN; QM V T VT at n QTL T T T Ij| 1 l W 4/ f LLuunl ||1 ,1. |I |I|| H r|| uu1| l, uw M d l: 1

Patented June 15, 1948 Joseph Rosales, Los Angeles, Calif.,va,ssignor to The Garrett Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., .a ycorporation Lof California Application April 17, 1944, 'SeriaLNo. 5531,347

12 Claims.

This application is in part a continuation cf my eopending application, iiled April 5, 1943, Serial No. 481.832 and :now matured into Pat. No.` 2,417,661,l granted .March :18, :1.947, for Method and means forlassembling heat exchangers hav ing flattened itubes, and .relates to .1an invention tor V manufacture of heat exchangers or intercoolers having :flattened Atubes therein, and -relatessinparticular-to adevieeffor flattening tubes whichLhave been `assembled in banks.

It is an object of :the invention :to: provide ,a simple devioewhioh'will ila-tten round tubes after they vhave been arranged nfasupporting frame Work or housmg in suitably :spaced relation.

`Itiisfalso an object of theinvention to provide a tuber flattening dev-ice having .a plurality of .cooperating jaws tosimultaneously engage a plu'- ralityof tubes andwhloh jaws vmay beactuated s0 .as tchat-ten the tubes.

A further object of theinventionis to ,provide for 4use within the housing of a heatexchanger atube flattening device having av plurality of narrow xed jaws i-nl spaced relation pand ak plurality of :movable jaws in cooperative .relation thereto, with means for simultaneouslymovin-g the coopenating iiaws toward eachother .through apredetermined distanoe so that the tubes ywill vbe attened .consistently tov a predetermined. :dimension.

.Further objects and advantages of the invention will -be ,brought out int-he following'part .of

the specication.

nleferringzto the drawings .which `arexfor illustrative purposes only,

Fig. A1y .is air-:side view. or :a preferred rformrof ,my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vpartly sectioned- View showingfthe manner in'which the .jaw means ofthe.- :device engages the tubes which are to attened;

Fig. `3 :is an .enlarged partly sectioned `View taken as indicated.-:bythelineI 3--3- of Fig. 2.

lThe tube flattening deviceshovvn. in thedrawingsxincludesa support t2' of rectangular form sarasfto have the appearance of Aaflat rectangular plate asshownrn vFig.:S-there beinganopen-f ing .I3/.near the center-thereof. A-plu'rality of xed iawrmembersv t4 projectvfrom -thetront` face ofrthev support lf2' in parallelgrelation These jaw members. 1,4. have the general -form oi flatv loa-rs ci rectangularxcross. section standing on edgeon theffront :face of the lsupport.ft2... The/jaw@ members I4 are preferably formed integrally withithe support` |12 andaredisposed .in Spacedlelaiiin from.. end :to end thereof. It lwill :be knCited-that the ,bladeflike jaw members Ill extend full. width of thesupport I2.

Thel jaw-'members .i4 have .aligned openings 2-5 therethrough to zreceive a pair of bar elements I6 which vsupport movable jaw members I1 in ceoperativerelation to the .-xed jaw'rnembers I4. Each of .the ibar elements I6 comprises a headed bar lt8 having agshort threadedxsection 2l oppositeitsmead t9.,- Ihe movablejawmembersll have aligned openings 2,2 therethrough which closely Afit the .-shank 2|) .of :the screw :or ,bar I8, andthesemovable jaws ISI are :spaced-alongthe ,shanklsZIl ofthe-bars IB by spacer sleeves 23'. .As `shown in Figs 2 and 3, the iinal movable ljaw tl, indicated byjthge numeral I'I,has threaded openings 24totreceive the'threadedends 2l of the bars :I-B. The-heads .I9 ,ofthebars I8 arepreferably of the same external diameter .as the sleeves. 23 andare/providedwithsockets 25 engageable-by azwrenchior `the purpose of turning the bars `Illflso as. to screw :the threaded. ends ,2-I thereof into the :threaded opening-s ,24' of the movable `r`jaw member 'ITI'. A feature of .the arrangement shown in Figs. .2; and 3 Lis that .the

' movable bars .1I-l may `be assembled in the. spaces between the/fixed bars .24 and that the spacer sleeves 23 may be disposed in the openings I5, atterwhich the bar t8 may be passed progressively `through the openings l22f of the `jaws I-1 andthe openings of .the s1eeves.23. The assembly of jaws `IFI and. :sleeves 23 are .held snugly .togetherebycompression resulting from thes'crewing of the bar Iainto the jaw .member Il'.

The movablerjaW-members I1 comprise part .of a movable unit including .the bars I8 and the sleeves 23, which .unit is moved .by a lever 26 Whichis swingableona transverse pin 21 in the opening .|13 of'tl'esupport I2. The forward end 28.,ofthe' lever12$ is. positioned between adjacent movable laws vI"I and is adapted to .engage the hack face 29 Aoffene of the movable jaws I'l. The rear end 3010i the lever 26 isengageable by a leverBLI' whichiorms a .part of a power .device P which.ac tuatesv the jaws.A IT and alsoserves asa handle projectinggrearwardly from the support I2. Thispower unit P" has an arm 32 lying along side the lever 3l' and' .bengeonn'ected to the rear faceo the `support 'I2 .by .machine screws 33. The vinvention includes adjustable means for limiting .thel movement of the vjaws' l1. vunder powerso. that the tubes will be attened to eX- actlythe desired extent. This adjustablemeans comprises ascrew'd `which is threaded through theglever 3.2 in suchposition that thev end of the screw will confrontl the face36 of the lever 3'0'.

A spring 3l, disposed around the projecting end of the screw 34, exerts a force to return the lever 30 to its initial position, and also to return the jaws Il to initial or inactive position after the actuating power has been released.

The lever 3| is swingably attached to the arm 32 by a pivot 4| and on the rearward end of the arm 32 there is a cylinder 42 having therein a iluid operated piston 43 which actuates means 44 to swing the lever 3| in the direction indicated by the arrow 45 of Fig. 1. This actuating means 44 is shown as a toggle which acts between a pivot 4'5 carried by the arm 32 and a pivot 4t carried by the lever 3| to produce the desired movement of the lever 3| when force is applied to the central portion of the toggle 44 as the result of forward movement of the piston 43 byfluid pressure, such as air pressure, received through a llexible conduit 48 connected to a passage 4% which extends through a handle member 50 attached to the rear end of the piston 43. An air valve 52, arranged to be operated by -a manuallry engageable button 53, controlsthe ow of air through the passage 49 to the cylinder 42.

The handle means, provided by the cylinder 42 and the projecting handle 50, makes it possible for a worker to easily support the tube flattening device in a position wherein a portion thereof extends into the shell of an intercooler to engage the tubes which are to be flattened.

In Fig. 2 I show several rows of tubes 9. Those tubes indicated by the numeral 9' and spaced along the line a-a have been flattened. On either side of the line a-a rows of tubes 9 are spaced along the lines b-b. In the normal use oi the tube flattening device, the first row of tubes is disposed along the line a-a and' are flattened as shown. Thereafter said tubes 9 are placed in the rows indicated by the lines b-b. The tube flattening device is then brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the cooperating pairs of jaws I4 and il straddle unflattened tubes. The front edges of the jaws I4 and I1 are chamfered so as to give them such thinness that they will enter the Spaces between the tubes, and shoulders 58 are provided along the front portions-of the jaws |4 and Ill to engage the edge portions of tubes which have been previously attened. When the tube flattening device has been brought into the position shown in Fig. 2, the operator actuates the power means so that relative movement of the jaws |4 and |'l will be produced to flatten the tubes engaged thereby to a width predetermined by the setting of the adjusting screw 44.

VI claim as my invention:

1. In a device adapted to be passed into the interior space of a supporting structure for flattening tubes arranged in side by side relation in said supporting structure, the combination of: a rectangular supporting member having a plurality of blades extending therefrom in side by side relation to form a plurality of spaced stationary jaws, there being rows of aligned openings through said stationary jaws perpendicular to the faces of said jaws; bar elements extending through said openings and being slidable therein; movable blades mounted rigidly on said bar elements to form movable jaws in spaced relation to said stationary jaws, and forming with said bar elements a movable jaw unit; handle means eX- tending rearwardly from the back of said supporting member, said handle means comprising `a power means and means to actuate said power means; and a lever arranged to be moved by said power means, one end of said lever having operative engagement with said movable jaw unit to move the same in a direction to bring said movable jaws closer to said stationary jaws.

2. In a device adapted to be passed into the interior space of a supporting structure for flattening tubes arranged in side by side relation in said supporting structure, the combination of: al rectangular supporting member having a plurality of blades extending therefrom in side by side relation to form a plurality of spaced stationary jaws, there being rows of aligned openings through said stationary jaws perpendicular to the faces of said jaws; bar elements extending through said openings and being slidable therein; blades disposed in the spaces between said stationary jaws so as to form movable jaws in cooperative relation to said stationary jaws, said movable jaws having openings therethrough aligned with said openings through said stan tionary jaws; bars extending through said openings of said jaws; spacer means on said` bars to hold said movable jaws in xed relation to said' bars and thereby form a movable jaw unit,'said spacer means being slidable in said openings of said stationary jaws; handle means extending rearwardly from the back of said supporting member, said handle means comprising a power means and means to actuate said power means; and a lever arranged to be moved by said power means, one end of said lever having operative engagement with said movable jaw unit to move the same in a direction to bring said movable jaws closer to said stationary jaws.

3. In a device for liattening tubes which are arranged in rows and supported in a position extending from one plate to another, there being narrow spaces between said tubes, the combination of: a support; iirst jaw members connected to said support in parallel relation, said jaw members presenting relatively slender edge walls for engagement with said tubes and for entering the spaces between said tubes; second jaw members to cooperate with said rst jaw members, said second jaw members also having slender edge portions capable of entering said spaces between said tubes; means connecting said second jaw members so that they will move in unison; means extending from the back of said support for producing relative movement of said second jaw members toward said first jaw members; and handle means, of which at least a portion of said last mentioned means forms at least a part, for supporting and manipulating said device to and from operative positions.

4. In a device for attening tubes which are arranged in rows and supported in a position extending from one plate to another, there being narrow spaces between said tubes, the combination of: a support; first jaw members connected to said support in parallel relation, said jaw members presenting relatively slender edge walls for engagement with said tubes and for entering the spaces between said tubes; second jaw members to cooperate with said i'lrst jaw members, said second jaw members also having slender edge portions capable of entering said spaces between said tubes and having, rearwardly of said slender edges,A offset shoulders adapted to engage previously llattened tubes so as to limit the penetration of said slender edge portions between the tubes; and means for producing relative movement ofA said second jaw members toward said rst jaw members. l

v5. In a devicevfor flattening tubes which are arranged in rows and supported in a position. exa

tending from one plate to another, there being narrow spaces between said tubes, the combination of: a support; iirst jaw members connected to said support in parallel relation, said jaw members presenting relatively slender edge walls for engagement with said tubes and for entering the spaces between said tubes; second jaw members to cooperate with said first jaw members, said second jaw members also having slender edge portions capable of entering said spaces between said tubes; means connecting said second jaw members so that they will move in unison; means extending rearwardly from said support for producing relative movement of said second jaw members toward said first jaw members; and shoulders on said jaw members for engaging previously flattened tubes and thereby properly position said jaws with respect to the tubes which are to be flattened.

6. In a tube flattening device of the character described, the combination of: a support defining a rectangular area; fixed jaw members extending forwardly from said support, said jaw members comprising relatively narrow plates disposed in parallel relation with spaces therebetween, there being openings through said plates; bar means slidable in said openings; movable jaw members secured to said bar means in said spaces between said fixed jaw members and in cooperative relation to said fixed jaw members; and means carried by the rear face of said support for moving said bar means so as to carry said movable jaw members toward said fixed jaw members.

7. In a tube flattening device of the character described, the combination of: a. support; fixed jaw members extending forwardly therefrom, said jaw members comprising relatively narrow plates Adisposed in parallel relation with spaces therebetween, and having openings therethrough; bar means slidable in said openings; movable jaw members secured to said bar means in said spaces between said fixed jaw members and in cooperative relation thereto; and means for longitudinally moving said bar means so as to carry said movable jaw members toward said xed jaw members.

8. In a tube flattening device of the character described, the combination of a support; fixed jaw ymembers carried by said support and projecting therefrom in parallel spaced relation, said jaw members having axially aligned bearing bores extending therethrough; a plurality of movable jaws arranged in the spaces between said fixed jaw members and adapted to cooperate therewith; a plurality of spacer sleeves interposed between said movable jaw members and maintaining them in spaced relation, said sleeves being partially received in said bores and having sliding bearing engagement therewith; a bar extending through said movable jaw Ymembers and said sleeves and on which said movable jaw members and sleeves are stacked and secured to form a movable jaw assembly; and means for moving said movable jaw assembly with reference to said fixed jaw members.

9. In a tube fiattening device of the character described, the -combination of: a support; a plurality of fixed jaw members carried by said support land projecting therefrom in spaced relation; a plurality of movable jaw members arranged in iixed spaced relation to each other in an assembly which is movable relative to said fixed jaw members, said movable jaw members being interposed between said fixed jaw members land adapted to cooperate therewith; means whereby said movable jaw assembly is guided with reference to said support and fixed jaw members; and means including a lever pivoted on said support and having a head projecting between, an adjacent pair of said movable jaw members and provided with rounded surfaces in bearing engagement with opposed surfaces of said jaw members, for moving said movable jaw assembly relative to said fixed jaw members.

10. In a tube flattening device of the character described, the combination of: a support; a plurality o-f fixed jaw members carried by said support and projecting therefrom in spaced relation; a plurality of movable jaw members secured together in an assembly which is movable relative to said support and said xed jaw members, said movable jaw members being interposed between the respective iixed jaw members and adapted to cooperate therewith; handle means projecting from said support; a lever pivoted on said support having one end operatively related to said movable jaw assembly to transmit movement thereto and having its other end arranged in spaced relation to said handle member; and a stop, adjustably mounted on said handle means and adapted to engage said lever to limit the movement of said movable jaw members toward said iixed jaws.

l1. A tube fiattening device as defined in claim l0, including power multiplying means comprising: a bell crank lever pivoted on said handle means and engaging said lever opposite said stop; and a coil spring interposed between said handle and said lever and piloted on said stop for spreading said iixed and movable jaw members.

l2. In a, tube fiattening device of the character described, the combination of a support; a row of fixed jaw members including relatively narrow portions disposed in parallel relation and with spaces ltherebetween; movable jaw members disposed in said spaces between the fixed jaw members and including relatively narrow portions in substantially parallel relation with said fixed jaw members; and means for effecting rectilinear movement of said movable jaw members toward said fixed jaw members longitudinally relative -to said row while maintaining the narrow portions of the respective movable jaw members and fixed jaw members in parallelism.

JOSEPH G. ROSALES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 918,816 Bartlett Apr. 20, 1909 1,048,821 Gill Dec. 31, 1912 1,620,260 Kellogg Mar. 8, 1927 

